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Todd Ebert | Long Beach California | 01/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A very good choice of recording for anyone who would like to
be pleasantly introduced to Dexter Gordon's music. Besides the beauty of the tunes, what astonishes me most about Dexter's playing is that when I listen I picture him playing in a very laid back, relaxed manner, in which the notes flow like water.
It's obvious that throughout his career, Dexter played the saxophone as naturally as someone speaking in their native tongue (for Dexter, that may have been his native tongue!).
Moreover, the way he plays these songs is very similar to a good storyteller who pays attention to the small details, but always has the big picture in mind. "It's You or No One", "Society Red", "Soy Califa", and "Tanya" are my favorites, but then again I always listen to this recording from start to finish. All the music is very accessible, but also done with great artistic integrity. "Tanya" ranks as one of my top-10 all-time favorite pieces of music, from any genre."